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Top College Basketball Picks for Saturday, March 6th, 2021

#4 Illinois take on #7 Ohio State, #17 Oklahoma State battles #6 West Virginia, and #5 Alabama travels to Georgia highlighting the Top 25 action in college basketball on Saturday.

Top College Basketball Picks for Saturday, March 6th, 2021
Picks & Predictions
Sat 6th March 2021

Florida State vs. Notre Dame

The No. 11 ranked Florida State Seminoles travel to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Florida State enters at 15-4 overall, 11-3 in the ACC. They are the top team in the conference, and a victory would secure their No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. The Seminoles are coming off a 93-64 victory over Boston College, their fifth win in the last six games.

Florida State is 27th in the country in points per game at 79.9 and are allowing 69.4 points per contest. They are 36th in field-goal percentage at 47.5%, and seventh in three-point shooting at 39.3%. The Seminoles have been great defensively, 67th in rebounds at 34.8 per game, 59th in steals (7.7), and 10th in blocks at 5.3 per game.


M.J. Walker leads the Seminoles in scoring at 13.1 ppg. RaiQuan Gray is second at 12.2 points and leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 per game.

Notre Dame has had an abysmal season (6-11 in ACC, 9-14). They have lost four straight, including an 80-69 loss to North Carolina State on Wednesday. The Irish are averaging 72.5 ppg while allowing 73.1 per contest.

They are shooting 46.5% from the field, 59th in the nation, and 36.9% from three-point range, 50th overall. They have even been good at the free-throw line, connecting on 76.4% of their attempts, 30th overall.

Scoring has not been a major issue for Notre Dame, it has been defense. Prentiss Hubb leads the team in scoring and rebounds at 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Nate Laszewski is second at 13.9 ppg.

College Basketball Pick – Florida State by 8.

Indiana vs. Purdue

No. 23 ranked Purdue welcomes Indiana. Purdue enters at 17-8, 12-6 in the Big Ten. They could potentially move into the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament. Purdue has won four straight games, including a 73-69 victory over Wisconsin.

The Boilermakers are averaging 71.0 ppg while allowing 65.8 points per contest, 71st overall. They are shooting 46.1% from the field and 33.7% from three-point range. They have been an excellent rebounding team, averaging 34.7 per game, 72nd in the country.


Trevion Williams is the only Purdue player averaging in double digits at 15.6 per contest. He is also averaging 8.9 rebounds per game which leads the Boilermakers. While only one player is in double digits, five others are averaging at least 8.5 points per game.

Indiana is 7-11 in the conference and 12-13 overall. Indiana has lost four straight games, including a 64-58 loss to Michigan State on Tuesday. The Hoosiers are averaging 71.0 ppg while allowing 69.8 points per game.

They are shooting 43.7% from the field and 33.6% from three-point range. Indiana is earning 15.9 free throws per game, 24th in the nation, but are only hitting on 67.0% of their attempts.

Indiana is led by Trayce Jackson-Davis who is having a Player of the Year season at 19.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Arman Franklin is averaging 11.6 points per game and Ajami Durham is right behind at 11.3 points per contest.

College Basketball Pick – Purdue by 10.

Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia

No. 17 ranked Oklahoma State travels to take on No. 6 ranked West Virginia. Oklahoma State is 10-7 in the Big 12, 17-7 overall. They are currently fifth in the conference, but have an opportunity to move up to fourth. The Cowboys lost to Baylor on Thursday, 81-70. They are 5-0 ATS in the last five games.

Oklahoma State is averaging 76.3 ppg, 63rd in the country, while allowing 72.0 points per contest. They are shooting 46.2% from the field, 69th overall, and 33.9% from three-point range. The Cowboys are 51st in the country in rebounds at 35.4 per game, 82nd in steals per game (7.4), and 45th in blocks per game (4.3).


Cade Cunningham is having a Player of the Year season for the Cowboys, averaging 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.

West Virginia is 11-5 in the conference, 18-7 overall. They are second in the Big 12 and need one more victory to keep that No. 2 seed entering the conference tournament.

West Virginia is averaging 77.5 ppg, 51st in the nation, while allowing 71.6 points per contest. They are shooting 42.9% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range, 53rd overall. The Mountaineers have been great on the glass as well, averaging 35.6 rebounds per game, 43rd overall.

Miles McBride leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg. Derek Culver is having a monster season, averaging 14.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

College Basketball Pick – West Virginia by 4.

Alabama vs. Georgia

No. 8 ranked Alabama takes on Georgia. Alabama is 15-2 in the SEC, first in the conference. They are 20-6 overall. The Crimson Tide demolished Georgia in the last meeting between these teams, 115-82. They enter as winners of five of their last six games but are 2-5 ATS in the last seven games.


Alabama is 36th in the nation in scoring at 79.2 per game and they are allowing 70.0 points per contest. The Crimson Tide like to take a lot of shots, 13th in the nation at 63.8 shots per game and fourth in three-point attempts per game at 30.4. They are 38th in rebounding at 35.9 per game, 20th in steals at 8.6 per contest, and 65th in blocks at 4.0 per game.

Jaden Shackelford leads Alabama in scoring at 14.5 ppg. Hunter Jones is fourth at 11.0 per game and leads the team in rebounding at 6.1 per contest.

Georgia is 7-10 in the SEC and 14-10 overall. They are 2-4 in their last six games. The Bulldogs are 46th in the country at 77.7 ppg and are allowing 77.7 points per game, 23rd worst in the country. They are shooting 45.9% from the field, 77th overall, and 31.4% from three-point range. Georgia is 95th in rebounds per game at 34.0.

Sahvir Wheeler is averaging 13.8 ppg and K. D. Johnson is averaging 13.4 points per game. 

College Basketball Pick – Alabama by 12.

Villanova vs. Providence

No. 10 ranked Villanova battles against Providence. Villanova is the top team in the Big East at 11-3 in the conference in 16-4 overall. They are 3-1 in their last four games.

The Wildcats are averaging 77.0 ppg, 57th in the country, while allowing 67.5 points per contest. They are 92nd in shooting from the field at 45.6%, and her 78th in three-point shooting at 36.0%. They have been great from the free-throw line as well, connecting on 78.4% of their attempts, 15th overall.

Villanova is led by Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and 15.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Four other players are averaging in double digits, including Collin Gillespie at 14.0 points per game.


Providence is 8-10 in the Big East and 12-12 overall. They are losers of two of their last three games and are 4-6 over the last 10. They are also 4-6 ATS over their last 10. The Friars are averaging 70.8 points per game while allowing 70.5 per contest. They are shooting 43.4% from the field and 32.6% from three-point range.

Providence is led in scoring by David Duke at 17.1 points per game. He is second in rebounding at 6.4 per contest. Nate Watson is averaging 16.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

College Basketball Pick – Villanova by 10.

Virginia vs. Louisville

No. 21 ranked Virginia travels to take on Louisville. Virginia is 12-4 in the ACC, second in the conference. They are 16-6 overall. Virginia defeated Miami on Monday, 62-51, snapping a three-game losing streak. They are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games. 

Virginia is averaging 68.5 ppg while allowing 60.2 points per contest, 13th in the country. They are an excellent shooting team, hitting 48.0% of their shots, but are only taking 52.7 shots per contest, 17th from the bottom. The Cavaliers are shooting 39.2% from three-point range, 10th overall, and 80.4% the free-throw line, third overall.

Sam Hauser’s leading Virginia in scoring at 15.5 points per game and is second at 6.7 rebounds per contest. Jay Huff leads the team in rebounding (7.0) and is second in scoring (13.3).


Louisville is 8-4 and the ACC, fourth in the conference, and are 13-5 overall. They have won their last two games, including and 80-73 victory over Duke in overtime.

The Cardinals are 6-4 in their last 10 games. Louisville is averaging 69.2 ppg while allowing 66.2 points per contest, 74th overall. They are 16th in rebounding at 37.3 per game. Louisville is shooting 44.2% from the field and 30.7% from three-point range.

Carlik Jones leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game and Jay’Lin Withers leads the team in rebounding at 8.0 per game.

College Basketball Pick – Louisville by 2.

Illinois vs. Ohio State

No. 4 ranked Illinois takes on No. 10 Ohio State in this Big Ten showdown. Illinois is 15-4 in the Big Ten, second in the conference. They are 19-6 overall. The Fighting Illini are winners of three straight games, including a 76-53 victory over Michigan on Tuesday.

Illinois is 19th in the country at 81.0 points per game and is allowing 68.5 points per contest. They are an excellent shooting team, ninth in the nation at 49.9% and are hitting 38.3% of their three-point shots, 19th overall. They are eighth in rebounding at 37.6 per game.


Ayo Dosunmu is having a monster year for Illinois, averaging 21.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Kofi Cockburn is dominating as well, averaging 17.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. 

Ohio State is 12-7 in the Big Ten and 18-7 overall. The Buckeyes are losers of three straight games, including a 73-57 loss to Iowa last Sunday. They had won seven straight games leading up to the recent losses.

Ohio State is averaging 77.2 ppg, 54th in the nation, while allowing 69.8 points per contest. They are shooting 46.3% from the field, 66th, and 36.4% from three-point range, 62nd in the nation. The Buckeyes are a great free-throw shooting team as well, averaging 77.3%, 25th in the country, and are averaging 16.8 free throws per game, eighth overall.

E.J. Liddell is averaging 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Duane Washington is second on the team at 15.3 points per game.

College Basketball Pick – Illinois by 3.

Butler vs. Creighton

No. 14 ranked Creighton welcomes Butler on the heels of a major controversy for the Bluejays. Creighton is 13-6 in the Big East, second in the conference, and 17-7 overall.

They will be without their head coach for this contest following some offensive comments made recently. The Bluejays have lost their last two games and are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games.


Creighton is 43rd in the nation at 77.8 ppg and is allowing 68.9 points per game. They are 30th in field-goal percentage at 48.0%, and 64th in three-point shooting at 36.4%.

Marcus Zergarowski leads the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg. He is one of five players averaging in double digits. Christian Bishop leads the team in rebounds per game at 5.9 and is fourth in scoring at 11.3 points per contest.

Butler is 8-11 in the conference and 9-13 overall. They have won their last two games, including a 73-61 victory over Villanova last Sunday. The Bulldogs are averaging 63.1 ppg, 18th from the bottom, and are 86th in points allowed per game at 66.7. They are shooting 41.1% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range.

The Bulldogs have four players averaging in double digits. Bryce Nze is having an outstanding season, fourth on the team in scoring at 10.8 points per game and leaving the club and rebounds at 8.2 per contest.

College Basketball Pick – Butler by 4.

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas

No. 12 ranked Arkansas welcomes Texas A&M. Arkansas is second in the SEC at 12-4 and are 20-5 overall. The Razorbacks have won seven straight contests, including a 101-73 victory over South Carolina on Tuesday.

Arkansas is seventh in the nation in points per game at 83.2 and are allowing 70.3 points per contest. They are shooting 45.4% from the field and 34.3% from three-point range.

The Razorbacks are 65th in the country in free-throw percentage at 74.3% and 26th in free throws per game at 15.8. This is a very solid club, 17th in the country in rebounds (37.2), 38th in steals (8.2), and ninth in blocks (5.3) per game.


Arkansas is led by Mac Moody averaging 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Justin Smith is the team’s leading rebounder at 7.0 per contest and is third in points at 12.6 per game.

Texas A&M is 2-7 in the conference and 8-8 overall. They have lost four of their last five games. The Aggies are averaging 63.1 ppg and allowing 64.9 points per contest, 59th overall. They are shooting 40.9% from the floor and 29.2% from three-point range.

Emmanuel Miller is the only Aggies player averaging in double digits at 15.4 points per game. He is also the team’s leading rebounder at 8.1 per contest.

College Basketball Pick – Arkansas by 10.

Loyola-Chicago vs. Indiana State

No. 20 ranked Loyola-Chicago takes on Indiana State in the semi-finals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Loyola defeated Southern Illinois early on Friday, 73-49.

That moved them to 22-4 overall and 16-2 in the MVC. The Ramblers shot 47% from the field, including 10 of 21 from three-point range (48%). Jacob Hutson led the way with 13 points.

Loyola is fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage at 50.4% and are 76th in points per game. Cameron Krutwig is averaging 15.0 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding at 6.5 per contest.

While Krutwig may be the only Ramblers player averaging in double digits, six other players are averaging between 7.0 and 7.9 points per game. There is plenty of offense for this team, they just spread it around.


Indiana State edged Evansville, 53-43. That moved the Sycamores to 11-7 in the MVC and 14-9 overall. They have now won 11 of their last 13 games. Indiana State shot 40.4% in the contest. Tyreke Key led the way with 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Jake Laravia also grabbed nine boards and added eight points.

Indiana State is shooting 43.7% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Key is the team’s leading scorer at 17.4 points per contest. Laravia is averaging 12.5 points per game and is the team’s leading rebounder at 6.1 boards per game. Tre Williams is tied for the team lead in rebounds.

College Basketball Pick – Loyola-Chicago by 6.

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